Search underway for missing sailors as ship sinks off Zakynthos

Greek coastguard vessels, helicopters and other ships in the area, are searching for three missing sailors, following the sinking of a Turkish freight ship in the Ionian Sea on Saturday morning.

According to Ekathimerini , one crew member was killed and a further three missing, after their ship capsized between the Ionian Island of Zakynthos and the Greek Port of Killini .

Greek Reporter said the Greek coastguard announced four sailors were missing from the Turkish freighter Erol Sankaya, but six other sailors had been rescued by coastguard vessels and other ships.

A coastguard spokeswoman said, "The freighter was sailing with a crew of 10 from Zakynthos to Turkey when it capsized in relatively good weather conditions off the Peloponnese port of Kyllini, probably owing to a cargo shift."

A later statement confirmed that there had been 10 Turkish nationals on board the ship, which leaves three sailors missing at this time. WSLS reported a dead seaman had been found on the deck of the half-sunk vessel.